Belgian chocolates exempted from Sochi import ban after outcry

Customs officials have barred food imports for a number of national
delegations, but Belgium was granted a reprieve for its chocolates after a
flood of complaints

Belgium faced a ban on shipments of chocolates, which contain dairy products, until other national Olympic teams rallied behind the small Western European countryPhoto: GETTY

By Bruno Waterfield

1:45PM GMT 07 Feb 2014

Dutch meatballs and American yoghurt have fallen foul of food import bans at the Winter Olympics, but an exception has been made for Belgium's famed chocolates after other national delegations threatened a revolt.

A large shipment of Chobani yogurt, made Greek-style in New York, was refused entry into Russia under strict rules on dairy imports though the company is a major sponsor of the United States Olympic team.

Despite a personal intervention by Barack Obama, the US president, the yoghurt ban has stayed in place.

To the dismay of the Dutch Olympic team, imports of bitterballen, a deep fried beef and potato croquette, have also been banned under Russian "food safety" restrictions on meat imports.

Belgium too faced a ban on shipments of chocolates, which contain dairy products, until other national Olympic teams rallied behind the small Western European country.

"We wanted to bring chocolates to make life somewhat more comfortable during negotiations or talks," said Eddy De Smet, the head of the Belgian Olympic Committee.

"Initially, we received a No. However, after different delegations had expressed their discontentment about the decision, the problem was solved, especially with regards to the Olympic Village. We have now received the go-ahead."

In order to enjoy their bitterballen, a fast food snack that is often mocked as emblem of the low standards of Dutch cusine, the Netherlands Olympic delegations has hired a chef and ordered enough Russian ingredients to make 38,000 meatballs.

Darryl Seibel, a Team GB spokesman, said: "We brought a few varieties of English tea with us and some dried snacks but we had absolutely no problem at all. We didn't bring any meat or dairy products."